Cyclists should be allowed on Llandudno prom

There were no accidents during a 12-month trial

Cyclists should be allowed to carry on using Llandudno Promenade because they’re much less dangerous than people think, a report claims

Campaigners have long fought to be allowed to cycle on the prom, and this latest decision follows a 12 month trial.

There were no accidents in the trial and only 2% of cyclists seen were travelling at “excessive speed”.

The report will be discussed by Conwy Council on Thursday morning.

The report states: “There are risks to injury, of both pedestrians and cyclists, arising from this activity. However, the experience and evidence indicates that perceived risks are not realised in practice.”

Councillors will decide whether to amend a bylaw to allow “informal, unsegregated” cycling to go on indefinitely.

Cllr Mike Priestley, cabinet member for environment, insists cyclists and walkers can live side by side.

He said: “It’s about ‘share with care’. There have been some concerns about when it gets busy such as with a rally cars display or a bandstand concert but we can fence off that area.”

The present bylaw is thought to be ambiguous and unenforceable.

David Williams, Llandudno Hospitality Association chairman, said moves to allow cycling should “meet with the approval” of his members.

He said: “We have no problem with pedestrians sharing with cyclists on the prom.

“It means that by and large the cyclists act more responsibly and are aware of pedestrians and adjust their speed accordingly.” He added: “We were against a designated cycle track which would encourage cyclists to speed on the prom.”

During the trial, cyclists’ behaviour was monitored using a CCTV camera at the cenotaph, by Seaboard Inspectors twice-daily in summer, and a research company did a “public perception survey” with interviewees on the promenade.

Towards the end of the 12 months, Conwy set up a Promenade Cycling Review Task and Finish Group.

The report says it noted that no accidents have been recorded or reported during the trial period - although one person recently reported two near misses.

It was noted that 2% of cyclists had been travelling at what was considered to be excessive speed but that the vast majority of cyclists, consistent with the experience of other coastal local authorities, had modified their speed according to the “density and behaviour” of other users of the promenade.

The report concludes that the trial lifting of the earlier cycling ban had not resulted in any significant increase in cycling.

The group decided the trial had been a success and barriers could deter cyclists during busy events.

Roy Spilsbury, of the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC), said: “CTC welcomes this move to amend the archaic Llandudno promenade byelaws.

“These have long been misinterpreted and misrepresented, to deny cycling access against the public interest. This should be the first step towards removing all obstacles to the inclusion of the entire Llandudno coastline, including the Great Orme, into the prestigious 13,000 mile National Cycle Network.”

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The Editor

Mark Thoma

Liverpool-born Mark joined the Daily Post in January 2014 after seven years as editor of its Merseyside sister title the Liverpool Post. He started out as a weekly news reporter on Wirral Newspapers, and spent seven years at the Daily Post and Liverpool Echo. He was The Press Association's regional correspondent for North Wales, Merseyside and Cheshire from 1983 to 1997, before returning to the ECHO as deputy news editor. He has won a number of journalism awards, including the UK Press Gazzette Regional Reporter of the Year award, and in 1993 wrote a book on the James Bulger murder.